Dwight Baumgardner passed away peacefully at his home on Nov. 10, 2016. He was surrounded by Lorraine, his wife of 61 years and his children and grandchildren both near and far. Dwight was born on a farm outside of McCallsburg, Iowa, on 3/24/23 and lived a remarkable 93+ years!
After high school Dwight moved to California and started working in a defense plant building B-25 bombers and was there on Dec. 7th 1941. He then enlisted and served at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, where he maintained and repaired aircraft, including the iconic PBY Catalina.
Following his Navy service, he returned to Iowa and attended Luther College where he studied Business. After receiving his B.A. he moved to Minneapolis and enrolled at U of M where he completed his master’s degree in industrial relations. After graduation, he began a long and productive career in the personnel field. Dwight retired from Minnesota Title Insurance at 67.
He then volunteered at SCORE for 25 more years, and just celebrated his second retirement from there, where he received an award for the most years of service. During his tenure at Bemis Bag Co., an employer early in his career, he occasionally had headaches and consulted with the new company nurse, Lorraine. She offered a friendly ear and aspirin. This became a regular habit, and of course the rest is history! A proposal, a wedding, four children, eight grandchildren and many, many happy memories. They built their one and only home in Minnetonka, spent countless hours loving and supporting their children and grandchildren, traveled the world and skied at their beloved second home in Breckenridge, Dwight into his 80’s; Lorraine into her late 70’s!
Dwight has left an indelible mark on his wife, children, grandchildren and all that knew him. He was kind, patient, compassionate, non-judgmental, supportive and caring; all in his quiet loving way. His wit was dry and his one-liners delivered with the perfect timing, his infamous “look” and a twinkle in his eye.
Dwight is survived by: Lorraine, loving wife; children, David (Rita), Ann (Jeff) Pederson, Paul, Brian (Kristine); grandchildren, Laura (Tim) Wike, John, Kara, Rachel (Nikki), Camille, Nicholas, Andrew and Charlie; sister, Peggy (Baumgardner) Mullick ‘59; niece, Sharin Lutsey; great nephew, Coltan Lutsey.
Memorials are preferred to Sharing and Caring Hands. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 26, 2016, at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 13505 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka. Private interment Ft. Snelling. Gearty-Delmore 952-926-1615